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They're putting in new sidewalks and laying underground wiring in downtown Batesville, all part of the pre-holiday preparation for The Polar Express.

If everything plays out as expected, the work will more than pay off when the magical train ride fulfills the Mississippi town's economic dreams while accomplishing the Christmas fantasies of countless children.

Based on the children's book and Tom Hanks movie about a doubting child who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, The Polar Express Train Ride franchise licenses with local railroads to provide a real-life experience similar to the story. In the Mid-South, Iowa Pacific Holdings last year operated The Polar Express for the first time on the old Illinois Central Line between Southaven and Canton, Mississippi. The event was so well received that it returns for a second run this year, offering rides on select dates between Nov. 18 and Dec. 23.

The experience for children is the top priority, says Sheila Pounders, but the economic boost for Batesville is too significant to ignore.

"Any time we can get 50,000 to 60,000 people passing through the downtown area, that's always a plus," said Pounders, who with partner Don Clayton manages the local Polar Express event through their Court Street Patio LLC event planning agency.

Pounders said the 50,000-60,000 count is the number that organizers expect, based on last year's totals. The round-trip train ride departs from Batesville for its hour-long journey to the North Pole — the exact location isn't disclosed to maintain the magical feel — then returns to Batesville. That means Batesville merchants get two shots at the horde of visitors, once at the journey's start and again at its finish.

"It's just such a great economic boost," Pounders said. "Our city board has gone out of its way to do major renovations, and all the merchants start getting ready for it early.

"I own a restaurant and was just amazed last year at the exposure we got from it. It attracts people from all over, not just North Mississippi we had cars from Memphis, Louisiana — everywhere."

In addition to the holiday season economic boost to businesses, Polar Express provides jobs. The 200-plus positions staffing the event — everything from parking attendants, to supervisory roles, to the actors playing roles on the train — are filled locally.

"We had a job fair for it, and more than 800 turned out," Pounders said.

Iowa Pacific is still accepting applications for jobs, but only online, according to Michael Hicks of the Lou Hammond Group, which is handling publicity for The Polar Express Train Ride. All applicants must apply at www.iowapacific.com/employment.

During the ride, participants hear the Polar Express movie soundtrack while dancing chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies as they read along from the book. Santa boards the train at the North Pole and gives children riders a silver sleigh bell. Chefs lead passengers in singing Christmas carols on the return trip. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride.

"There's no greater vision than seeing the looks on the kids' faces at the end of the ride," Pounders said. "We had a man from DeSoto County interviewing for Santa, and he said, 'You know what the most important person on the train is, don't you?' I said, 'I don't know, probably Santa.' He said, 'No, it's the children.'"

Iowa Pacific started the trip last year as part of its broader efforts to revitalize the rail line, which Iowa Pacific operates under a 15-year lease from a regional rail authority. A closed 90-mile stretch of track cut off north-south rail service from Grenada to Canton.

The addition of Polar Express gave the Mid-South its only taste of the franchise, which is licensed to Rail Events Inc. on behalf of Warner Bros. Consumer Products Inc. Rail Events has operated The Polar Express Train Rides in the U.S., Canada and the UK since 2005.

Departure times for the Batesville ride will be 1, 3, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on select dates. The exact dates and fares, along with more detail about the ride, are available at www.GrenadaPolarExpressRide.com or by calling 877-334-4783.